It’s an interesting fact of human nature that we’re rarely satisfied with where we’re at or what we’re experiencing (at least in terms of the weather). So many people write me and tell me how much they hate the Canadian cold and wish they were here with me enjoying the warmth of Bolivia (those e-mails come with more frequency and stronger wording the closer to February we get).

But the problem is, I’m not really enjoying the warmth of Bolivia that much either. Right at this moment it’s probably 35 C outside, and the airconditioner in the coffee place I’m writing this isn’t working. So that makes it about 95 C in here. I’d do anything for a little -40 weather right now. But of course I’d be happy for about 30 seconds and then wish I was back in my 95 degree coffee shop….

See what I mean? Or maybe it’s just me…

Last night the only way I could sleep was putting my big fan about six inches in front of my head. It’s a little hard to catch your breath when you role over in your sleep and the wind catches you square in the face…but after gasping for a moment or two, it’s okay and you go back to sleep…

My truck is at the mechanic’s today. I wrecked….something…when I was doing my rally drive back from the waterfalls the other week. I actually do know what I wrecked, but it would take too long to explain it when I don’t actually know all the names of stuff. I’ve had enough of those conversations with my mechanic father over the years (“I don’t know Dad…it’s the rubber thing that covers the joint thing up near the front tire… Yes, there’s something leaking out… No, I don’t know what it smells like…”).

I don’t feel the need to have that conversation here.

The short of it is, I’m truckless today. Which means I’m taking the micro (bus) everywhere. Which entertains the guys in my house to no end. I think they forget that for the first year and a half I took the bus everywhere I went. I have the stories of ending up in the middle of nowhere to prove it. They were laughing at our German volunteer kid today, ‘cause yesterday he fell asleep on the bus, missed our stop and ended up somewhere way out on the edge of the city. Yea…been there and done that…more than once sad to say.

I’d forgotten what riding the bus here can be like. Sure they’re crowded sometimes. Sure it can be a challenge not to fall over when you have an especially vigorous driver. But that’s not the part that makes me laugh. Everytime, it seems, I look down or close my eyes for a moment (NOT sleeping!) and then look up again and go, “Now where the heck am I?!” I don’t know how it happens. Then as the bus slowly (or insanely fast, depending…there is no happy medium) winds it’s way through another random neighbourhood, you spend the next twenty minutes trying to see something familiar and/or deciding if you should be getting off this bus and taking your chances with another one.

Of course this all used to freak me out a lot more than it does now. Now, I’m mostly pretty apathetic. I figure I’ll end up somewhere eventually. As long as I managed to scam a seat and I’m not standing or hanging out the door…I’m good. I had a funny moment this morning as I was riding the bus and having my ritual trying-to-figure-out-where-I-am moment. I saw a church I recognized. But then I wasn’t sure if I knew where I was or if I’d just been lost in the same area before.

As it turned out…it was the latter…

Well…there’s no real purpose to this post, other than to just share another random day in the life of Missionary Ken and keep myself entertained for the next hour while I wait to see if I can have my truck back or not.

Anyhow, I really hope it rains tonight…and I really, REALLY hope my truck is ready soon…